By Sharon Filbeck
The entire team that God put together was made up of LTC faculty and Alumni. What a privilege to see our alumni from different places working together in ministry. What we didn't know was this was the very first time they had had a women's retreat where the women taught the women. It almost didn't happen.
In January I was able to participate in the LTC’s Church Leadership Development program in partnership with the Mennonite Brethren Center located beside Thailand border. Over the years. Out of our conversations with the MB leadership was birthed a plan to host a Women’s Retreat for the women from across the border. (The church on that side is under persecution, so Christians cross over for special events) However, months went by and we did not hear back from the MB leadership. We had almost decided it wasn’t going to happen. But, in May they emailed me and announced everything was in place for the retreat to happen the first of June. I was still in the States. It was summer in Thailand and everyone was scattered doing summer ministry projects. Also, the dates coincided with the first week of school at LTC. It was going to be a challenge to get things pulled together.
The theme for the retreat was being Women of Christ. We focused on lessons and activities on becoming women who: seek to please God, to delight in God and to hunger for God, and to find satisfaction and healing in Christ. We talked about our most important relationships, meeting the needs of our families, examining how faith expressed in love works to bring hope, knowing your value, and releasing hurts to God to be renewed in Christ.
LTC Alumni, Dada was a wonder to behold. She seamlessly took turns leading different parts of the program. She facilitated with small groups, ran the power points for the worship teams, helped explain instruction for activities, and bonded with the ladies at every step of the way. Her presence was a blessing to everyone! We could not have had such a retreat without her!
Pray for us as we plan for next year’s retreat. Pray for the women who attended. Pray for God’s fruit in their lives and the love of Christ would shine forth in their homes and communities.
The entire team that God put together was made up of LTC faculty and Alumni. What a privilege to see our alumni from different places working together in ministry. What we didn't know was this was the very first time they had had a women's retreat where the women taught the women. It almost didn't happen.
In January I was able to participate in the LTC’s Church Leadership Development program in partnership with the Mennonite Brethren Center located beside Thailand border. Over the years. Out of our conversations with the MB leadership was birthed a plan to host a Women’s Retreat for the women from across the border. (The church on that side is under persecution, so Christians cross over for special events) However, months went by and we did not hear back from the MB leadership. We had almost decided it wasn’t going to happen. But, in May they emailed me and announced everything was in place for the retreat to happen the first of June. I was still in the States. It was summer in Thailand and everyone was scattered doing summer ministry projects. Also, the dates coincided with the first week of school at LTC. It was going to be a challenge to get things pulled together.
The theme for the retreat was being Women of Christ. We focused on lessons and activities on becoming women who: seek to please God, to delight in God and to hunger for God, and to find satisfaction and healing in Christ. We talked about our most important relationships, meeting the needs of our families, examining how faith expressed in love works to bring hope, knowing your value, and releasing hurts to God to be renewed in Christ.
LTC Alumni, Dada was a wonder to behold. She seamlessly took turns leading different parts of the program. She facilitated with small groups, ran the power points for the worship teams, helped explain instruction for activities, and bonded with the ladies at every step of the way. Her presence was a blessing to everyone! We could not have had such a retreat without her!
Pray for us as we plan for next year’s retreat. Pray for the women who attended. Pray for God’s fruit in their lives and the love of Christ would shine forth in their homes and communities.